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A Battle of Wits, also known as Battle of the Warriors, is a 2006 war drama co-produced between Hong Kong and China, based on the Japanese historical Bokkō ("Mohist Attack") by Ken'ichi Sakemi, starring Andy Lau and Fan Bing-bing.

Set in the Warring States period, Andy Lau plays Ge-Li the Mohist, a master strategist and tactician, but also a man of peace, sent as an advisor to the city of Liang, under attack by the Kingdom of Zhao. While Ge-Li's skills and defense strategy contributes greatly to the city, however the emperor of Liang starts having doubt of Ge-Li and plots to have him eliminated before he becomes too much of a threat.


This film contains examples of:

  • Action Girl: Yi-yue, a cavalry commander and Lady of War perfectly capable of leading Troops and taking names in combat.
  • Big Badass Battle Sequence: The Liang defenders against the Zhao army, who attempts to use their numbers in a Zerg Rush, and later the night siege in the end of the movie.
  • Broken Bird: Yi-yue, after being falsely accused of plotting a rebellion against the King, arrested and tortured, and ready to be executed.
  • Booby Trap: Ge-Li’s methods of defense of the Liang city against invading troops, by teaching the defenders how to build large-scale traps that utterly decimates invaders.
  • But Now I Must Go: Eventually, after Yi-yue’s death and feeling the futility of his mission in defending the city, Ge-Li questions if his rescue of the Liang city is really worth it and ultimately decides the answer to be NO.
  • Campfire Character Exploration: The conversation between Ge-Li and Zhi-tuan around a campfire which explores more of Ge-Li’s intentions and motives.
  • Cue the Sun: Ge-Li’s very first scene had him walking towards the camera with the sun shinning behind him, obscuring his appearance into a shady silhouette.
  • Death from Above: In the first night siege of the movie, the Zhao army finally managed to invade the city by crossing the Liang walls using hot-air balloons carrying archers.
  • Downer Ending: Ge-Li eventually leaves Liang city, deciding that his efforts to promote peace has failed. Five years later, the city had fallen, and the Qin Empire under Qin Shi Huangdi conquers the city and unites all of China under the Qin Dynasty. Well, that’s how history goes...
  • Home Guard: Majority of the Liang city infantry are reduced to civilian conscripts, due to shortage of troops from the long-running war. But still, Ge-Li manage top convince them to Hold the Line for another month and let the war end peacefully.
  • Man on Fire: The Zhao troops successfully breach the gates and enter the city, en-masse, into the courtyard. But unbeknownst to them, Ge-Li had instructed the local defenders to build suspending platforms containing cauldrons of oil, and with one tug, could smash every single cauldron and rain oil on enemy troops. With no defender nearby, Ge-Li manage to trigger the trap himself, drenching a whole platoon of enemy soldiers, and when the oil touches one of the flaming torches in the courtyard, we get a scene of 50 to 60 soldiers all at once getting barbecued alive.
  • No Escape but Down: Ge-Li and Yi-yue, being pursued to the edge of a cliff by Zhao army troops, had no choice but to jump, down into the river below.
  • Non-Action Guy: Ge-Li the Mohist, whose role in the movie is to plan strategies and defense tactics instead of partaking in direct combat. Doesn’t stop him from kicking ass though, even if he really didn’t kill anyone directly (remotely triggering a trap that sets 50-odd people on fire notwithstanding).
  • Rain of Arrows: Liang-shi dies accepting a wave of fired arrows meant for Ge-Li.
  • Rising Water, Rising Tension: Yi-yue, being trapped in a flooding underground chamber. And she didn’t make it.
  • Rescue Romance: Yi-yue starts having feelings for Ge-Li when he saved her from drowning after they both end up falling into a river after the chase scene. But the feeling isn’t mutual.
  • The Siege: The whole movie revolves around Ge-Li the Mohist defending the Liang City from one.
  • The Strategist: Ge-Li the Mohist.


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